In vitro antilithiatic activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume bark on calcium oxalate crystallization / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#The study examines the effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume bark on crystallization of calcium oxalate.@*METHODS@#The antilithiatic effect of various concentrations of the hydro-alcoholic extract of C. zeylanicum was investigated at various stages of stone formation, using Cystone as a standard reference drug. The effect on calcium oxalate crystallization was evaluated by measuring the change in turbidity over time, during crystal nucleation, growth and aggregation, in the metastable solution of calcium chloride and sodium oxalate. The slope from the change in turbidity over time was measured using a spectrophotometer at 620 and 214 nm in respective tests. The inhibition rate was estimated by comparing turbidity in the presence and absence of extract. Crystals formed under experimental conditions were observed under a light microscope, and number and shape of the crystals were assessed in a randomly selected field. Phytochemical analysis and high-performance thin-layer chromatography of the extract was also carried out.@*RESULTS@#C. zeylanicum significantly reduced crystal nucleation at concentrations of 4, 8 and 10 mg/mL (P < 0.001). The inhibition percentage of crystal growth was between 28.30% and 92.46% in the presence of C. zeylanicum extract and from 20.76% to 64.15% with various concentrations of Cystone. The maximum inhibition of crystal growth was obtained from C. zeylanicum at 2 mg/mL (92.46%). Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in the number and size of crystals. In the aggregation assay, the inhibition percentage of C. zeylanicum was between 16.27% and 100%, while Cystone was from -214.68% to 100% at different concentrations. The highest (100%) inhibition of aggregation was found at 4 mg/mL of both the test and standard drugs.@*CONCLUSION@#We found that C. zeylanicum hydro-alcoholic extract has notable inhibitory effects on various stages of crystallization, in terms of turbidity of solution, as well as the crystal size, number and morphology.

review on arusa [adhatoda vasica nees]

The drug Arusa has been used since very long time in Unani system of medicine. According to the classical Unani medical literature Arusa is an important drug for respiratory system. Many Unani physicians have described it as an effective drug for a variety of ailments, such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma and fever. There are various vernacular names of Arusa in different languages. In Arabic Hashishatus-sual, in English Malabar nut, in Hindi Bansa, in Kannada Adusoge, in Persian Bansa and in Urdu Arusa. It has antispasmodic, expectorant, bronchodilator, antitubercular, antiseptic, parasiticidal, anti-inflammatory, antiphlcgmatic, antibilious, uterine stimulant, antidote, digestive, appetizer, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, diuretic and antihypertensive activities. The alkaloids vasicine and vasicinone are potent bronchodilators. Vasakin a non-nitrogenous principle obtained from alcoholic extract is antidiabetic. Leaves are chiefly used in chest diseases particularly as expectorant and bronchial antiseptic, also regarded as useful in tuberculosis. The leaves dried and made into cigarettes are smoked in asthma. The leaves when smoked in a pipe give relief in asthma because it produces an ammoniacal vapour which makes breathing easier. Its hypotensive, bronchodilator, expectorant, hypoglycemic, antibiotic, antitubercular and uterine activities have been proved by experimental and clinical studies

Anti-diabetic drug profile of unani medicinal plants [a phytochemical approach]

Diabetes arises due to lack of insulin, which is secreted by beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Insulin regulates carbohydrates, triglycerides and protein metabolism and control entry of glucose into the blood. Insufficient insulin results in hyperglycemia and develops symptoms of diabetes. Unani physicians have mentioned this disease as Dulab. It means there is a continuous intake of water and excessive discharge of urine. In this disease normal temperature of liver is altered due to continuous mental tension, anxiety, frustration, anger, fear, weakness of the nervous system and use of excessive hot and cold foods and drinks. These predisposing factors alter the temperature of the liver, which in turn affects the kidney indirectly. In Tibb-e-Unani many medicinal plants and mineral origin drugs have been mentioned to control diabetes. Worldwide approximately 343 plants have been proven in the laboratory experiments to possess hypoglycemic activity. A large variety of compounds obtained from several plant families were found to be responsible for the hypoglycemic activity. These include flavonoids, xantheues, triterpenoids alkaloids, glycosides, alkyl-disulphide, amino butyric acid derivatives, guanidinc, polysaccharides and peptides. There are several possible mechanisms of action of these active principles and plant sources

Hypoglycemic Activity of Barg-e-Arusa and Tukhm-e-Kalonji on Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus

Diabetic problem has become more common in last few decades due to pressure of growing population, ecological disturbances and last changing life styles. Presently two main groups of substances are recognized as oral hypoglycemic agents. But they are not risk free. In Tibb-e-Unani many medicinal plants and mineral origin drugs have been mentioned by various authors in the classical literature to control diabetes. But scientific validation of their antidiabetic properties is the need of the day. Therefore, in the present study the two Unani drugs that were chosen for the assessment of hypoglycemic activity i.e. Arusa [Leaves of Adharoda vasica. Nees.] and Kalonji [seeds of Nigella sativa, Linn.] The effect of the test drug was studied in healthy adult albino rabbits of either sex weighing 1.5-2 kg. Diabetes was induced in normal rabbits by injecting alloxan monohydrate 40 mg/kg in 2% aqueous solution IV into marginal ear veins. Both the drug extracts were compared for hypoglycemic effect with a standard drug glibenclamide, which was administered in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg orally. The animals were fasted for 24 hrs. before alloxan injection. Diabetes was observed in rabbits [fasting blood glucose level ranged from 200-250 mg/l00 ml] within 24 hrs after injection of alloxan and divided into four groups i.e. Diabetic control [Distilled water]. Diabetic standard [glibenclamide], Diabetic test [Arusa], Diabetic test [Kalonji], each group consisting of 5 rabbits. The test drugs were administered to the treated group, while the vehicle was administered to the animals of control group, orally. Blood samples were obtained from the marginal ear veins at 0 hr. [initial] and 2 hrs., 3 hrs. and 6 hrs. after drug administration. Blood glucose was estimated by the end point 0-toluidine. The study revealed that the Aqueous extract of Arusa and Kalonji in the dose of 100mg/kg and 20mg/kg respectively given orally reduced the blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rabbits. The significant reduction [p<0.05] in blood glucose level started after 3 hrs. which continued for 6 hrs. in both the groups

Studies on a non-pharmacopoeial unani drug for its effect on aspirin and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer

A non-pharmacopoeial Unani compound formulation containing 5 ingredients was studied in experimental animals for its effect against aspirin and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in two separate tests. In the first test, the animals were divided into 3 groups and treated with distilled water [3ml], test drug [3.12g/kg] and ranitidine [50 mg/kg], respectively. After 30 min of treatment, all the animals were administered with aspirin in the dose of 200 mg/kg. Animals were treated in this way daily once for 4 days and sacrificed after 4 hours of last dosing. The stomach was dissected out and the ulcer was observed with the help of magnifying glass and the degree of ulcer was determined. In the second test, the animals were treated in same way as described earlier except that they were treated with distilled water, test drug and ranitidine once only. After one hour of the treatment, they were administered with 1 ml of 80% ethanol. Later on, after 4 hours of ethanol treatment all the animals were sacrificed and observed for ulcer as in previous test. The ulcer index was calculated by dividing the multiplied sum of average degree of ulceration [ADU] with% of rats with ulceration [RU], by 100. The results were compared with plain as well as standard control. The test drug was found to produce significant anti-ulcer effect, as it substantially reduced the level of ulcer index as compared to the control group and it was almost equally effective to that of ranitidine